Moutoa Gardens

Moutoa Gardens is a park along the Whanganui River planted with native trees and plants. The grounds feature walking paths, open spaces, and several monuments throughout the landscaped area.

The park was established in 1900 and contains the Moutoa Monument honoring those who died in the Battle of Moutoa Island during the Second Taranaki War in 1864. This memorial marks an important moment in the region's past.

This place is called Pākaitore in Māori and once served as a meeting ground where different iwi came together on equal terms. You can sense the cultural significance through how the community uses and cares for it today.

The park offers plenty of benches, wide paths, and open green areas where you can sit and relax throughout the year. The flat terrain is easy to walk and suitable for a leisurely stroll at any time.

The park holds twelve registered heritage items, including a standard chain mark from 1880 that shows early New Zealand surveying methods. This mark is an unusual reminder of how the land was once measured.

Location: Whanganui District

Official opening: 1900

GPS coordinates: -39.93180,175.05700

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:23